The Argosy, Vol. XXIV, No. 3 — page 25: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

ee Oe eel a A SECRET OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC. 409 The fellow went down like a log and lay there without stirring, and at that very dramatic point Captain Latimer came hastily down the stairway. ‘What's this! what’s this, gentlemen?’’ he demanded. ‘‘ A low row in my cabin? What does it mean? What did you strike him for, Mr. Thorne ?’’ Thorne was silent. Pepper had raised Monckton into a chair, but neither he nor Sessions seemed willing to reply. ~ Monckton himself was still too dazed to explain. ‘What is it? I demand an answer, sir!’’ cried the old man, with dignity. ‘‘ This cabinismy home. You are a passenger, Mr. Thorne, but you are also my guest. You have attacked another of my guests. Such an actis.an insult to me.”’ | ‘I beg your pardon, Captain Latimer,’”’ said Thorne. ‘‘I considered the Naida a public conveyance—not your home. Had I for a moment suspected that you looked upon it as such I would have restrained myself, great though the provocation might have been.’’ ‘‘T gave you no provocation, in the first place,’’ snarled Monckton. ‘' Not till you had tipped me out of my chair.”’ ‘‘T heard you call hima thief, sir!’’ interrupted the captain severely. ‘“You can keep quiet.’’ ‘He zs a thief,’’ exclaimed Monckton wildly, ‘‘ and his father was before him. It was only the night I came aboard the Naida that he snatched some- thing from my hand, and I haven’t seen it since ” ‘Ves?’ said Thorne quickly, ‘‘a flask of liquor. It’s at the bottom of the East River. You came aboard too drunk to know your right hand from your left.’’ , 7 : ‘“Stop!’? commanded Captain Latimer sternly. ‘‘ This discussion has gone far enough. You’d better go and get something on that jaw of yours before it gets stiff, Mr. Monckton—and as for you, sir,’? turning to Thorne, ‘“T’ll thank you to keep quiet for a bit. Let us all cool down before we dis- cuss this further. You are altogether too quick with your fins, sir.’’ Thorne turued on his heel and went to hiscabin. He was consumed with rage—mostly at his own hot headed stupidity for allowing himself to be drawn into such a disgraceful scene. When Captain Latimer heard the full particulars of the trouble from his two officers, he went to Thorne and frankly admitted that he had judged him too harshly. “But I canuot understand your attitude toward young Monckton. You have scarcely treated him decently since he joined us.’’ “Tf you knew him as well as I, Captain Latimer, you would not be so surprised at my avoidance of him, nor would you care to have your daughter make the acquaintance of a man of such character.”’ ‘‘Hold on!’’ said the captain sternly. ‘‘ Don’t you drag my daugh- ter’s name into this affair. I forbid it. Your interference is unpardonable.”’ Thorne sprang up ina rage. ‘“Very well,’ he said. ‘‘ Our interview is quite at an end, I believe. This is my private cabin, sir.’’ CONIC OOKS. CeO